Portable wireless communications device including pickpocket notification and related methods

ABSTRACT

A portable wireless communications device to be carried by a holster includes a portable housing carrying a wireless transceiver, a holster sensor, a local alert indicator, a user authentication input device, and a controller. The controller may store data and is connected to the wireless transceiver, the holster sensor, the local alert indicator, and the user authentication input device. The controller may be switchable to a pickpocket mode for activating the local alert indicator, wirelessly sending at least one remote alert message, and rendering unusable at least a portion of the stored data upon removal from the holster unless a user authentication is input before expiration of a predetermined time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of wireless communication devices,and, more particularly, to portable wireless communication devices andrelated methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A portable wireless communication device such as a cell phone, personaldigital assistant, wireless email device, pager, and the like may becarried by an owner/user on their person. A typical method for carryingsuch a portable device is for the owner to wear a holster on which theportable device is quick-release connected. The quick-release connectionmay permit the owner to easily remove the portable device from theholster. A disadvantage of the quick-release connection is that theportable device may come out of the holster through inadvertent contactwith an object, or by an unauthorized person removing the portabledevice. In both cases, this may happen without the knowledge of theowner of the portable device. Such a loss may create numerous problemsfor the owner of the portable device.

For instance, the owner may have to obtain and pay for a replacementportable device. The owner may have to cancel any services enabled bythe portable device, such as phone service, to prevent unauthorizedcharges to the owner. Additionally, there are potential problems withpreventing the disclosure of the information that was stored on theportable device. For instance, portable devices have becomeindispensable work tools and therefore the portable device may havesensitive business information whose dissemination needs to becontrolled.

Consequently, a number of schemes have been developed to address some ofthese potential problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,358 toTinsley discloses a holstered portable device that includes a sensor fordetermining if the portable device has been removed from the holster. Ifthe portable device has been removed from the holster, an alert may besounded and the alert may be deactivated by the entry of a series ofkeystrokes on the portable device. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,212 toSawinski also discloses a system that alerts a user when a portabledevice is removed from a holster. It further discloses that the portabledevice may be instructed by the alert program to transmit a storedmessage over a wireless channel to a user-identified target such asanother wireless device carried by the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,979 to Yu discloses a system that that alerts a userwhen a portable device is removed from a holster. The holster has acontact interface that mates with a contact interface on the portabledevice, and when the contact between the two contact interfaces areinterrupted, an alert is generated for the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,567 to Liao also discloses a holster for carrying aportable device. The holster has a receiver tuned to a circuit on theportable device, and when the portable device exceeds a certain distancefrom the holster, an alert is generated for the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable wireless communicationsdevice in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram, partially in section, of aportion of the portable device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of an alternateembodiment of a portable wireless communications device according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of theinvention to provide a portable device that can sense its removal from aholster and take appropriate steps if the removal was unacknowledged bythe owner of the portable device.

This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with theinvention are provided by a portable wireless communications device thatmay be carried by a holster and may be removable therefrom. The portablewireless communications device may include a portable housing carrying awireless transceiver, a holster sensor, a local alert indicator, a userauthentication input device, and a controller. The controller may storedata and may be connected to the wireless transceiver, the holstersensor, the local alert indicator, and the user authentication inputdevice. The controller may be switchable to a pickpocket mode foractivating the local alert indicator, wirelessly sending at least oneremote alert message, and rendering unusable at least a portion of thestored data upon removal from the holster unless a user authenticationis input before expiration of a predetermined time. Accordingly, aportable device is provided that can sense its removal from a holsterand take appropriate steps if the removal was unacknowledged by theowner of the portable device.

The local alert indicator may comprise a visible, audible, and/orvibratory alert indicator. The user authentication input device maycomprise an input keypad. The holster sensor may comprise a magnetic,electrical, optical, and/or mechanical holster sensor. The stored datamay comprise stored user data and/or stored application data. The remotealert message may comprise an email remote alert message, shortmessenger service remote alert message, and/or a telephone call.

A method aspect of the invention is for operating a portable wirelesscommunications device. The method may include using the controller, whenin a pickpocket mode, to activate the local alert indicator upon removalof the portable housing from a holster as determined based upon theholster sensor, to wirelessly send at least one remote alert messageusing the wireless transceiver, and to render unusable at least aportion of the stored data unless a user authentication is input intothe user authentication input device before expiration of apredetermined time.

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable wireless communicationsdevice 10 in accordance with the invention is now described. Theportable device 10 is shown as being removed from a holster 12 followingthe path indicated by removal arrows 14 a-14 c. The portable device 10is readily removed and inserted into the holster 12 to facilitateconvenient transport and access of the portable device by the user. Aswill be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the holster 12 istraditionally attached to a user's belt, trouser waistband, pocket, orthe like, and the holster may come in many alternate configurations suchas a partial sleeve that encloses at least a portion of the portabledevice 10.

The portable device 10 illustratively includes a portable housing 16carrying a wireless transceiver 18, a holster sensor 20, a local alertindicator 22, a user authentication input device 24, and a controller26. The controller 26 may store data, and is connected to the wirelesstransceiver 18, the holster sensor 20, the local alert indicator 22, andthe user authentication input device 24, for example. The controller 26is switchable to a pickpocket mode 28. In the pickpocket mode 28, thecontroller 26 will activate the local alert indicator 22, wirelesslysend at least one remote alert message 30, and render unusable at leasta portion of the stored data upon removal from the holster 12 unless auser authentication is input before expiration of a predetermined time.Considered in other terms, the portable device 10 can sense its removalfrom a holster 12 and take appropriate steps if the removal wasunacknowledged by the owner of the portable device as would occur, forexample, if a pickpocket surreptitiously removed the device from theuser's holster in a crowded environment, such as an airport.

The controller 26 may wirelessly send a plurality of remote alertmessages 30, for example. The user authentication may be a PersonalIdentification Number (PIN) or a password, or the like. Theauthentication input device 24 may comprise an input keypad 38, forexample, which may be used to enter the PIN and/or password.

As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the userauthentication input device 24 may further or alternately include otherinput devices such as biometric readers. The authentication input device24 is illustratively shown as carried by an outer surface 15 of theportable housing 16. The authentication input device 24 may alternatelyor additionally be carried within the portable housing 16 as will beappreciated by those of skill in the art.

The local alert indicator 22 may comprise a visible, audible, and/orvibratory alert indicator, for example. As will be appreciated by thoseof skill in the art, the visible indicator may be the flashing of one ormore lights, not shown, or flashing of the display 36. The audible localalert indicator may be a series of tones generated over a speaker, notshown, carried by the portable housing 16. The local alert indicator 22could also be vibration generated by a vibration unit, not shown,carried the portable housing 16.

The holster sensor 20 may comprise a magnetic, electrical, optical,and/or mechanical holster sensor as will be appreciated by those ofskill in the art. The holster sensor 20 detects changes in a monitoredparameter, which the controller 26 uses to determine if the portabledevice 10 is carried by the holster 12, or if the portable device 10 hasbeen removed from the holster 12.

The controller 26 may store data, such as stored user data 40 and/orstored application data 42, for example. User data 40 may includepersonal information, such as personal financial information, workrelated information, or the like entered into the portable device 10.Application data 42 may include software loaded onto the portable device10.

The controller 26 may generate or store the remote alert message 30that, in turn, may comprise an email remote alert message, a shortmessenger service remote alert message, a telephone call message, andthe like. The remote message is sent over communication links 52 a-52 cusing wireless transceiver antenna 50 to respective remote antennas 54a-54 c as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. The remotealert message 30 may be sent to an alternate user device 44 such as theuser's notebook computer. Alternately or additionally, the remote alertmessage 30 may be sent to a security department 46 such as the user'sinformation technology department at work or an identity thiefprotection organization of which the user is a member. Alternately oradditionally, the remote alert message 30 may be sent to a serviceprovider 48 such as the user's phone service. Of course, in otherembodiments only a single remote alert message 30 may be sent.

A method aspect of the invention is for operating the portable device10. The portable device 10 may comprise a portable housing 16 carrying awireless transceiver 18, a holster sensor 20, a local alert indicator22, a user authentication input device 24, and a controller 26 forstoring data. The controller 26 may be connected to the wirelesstransceiver 18, the holster sensor 20, the local alert indicator 22, andthe user authentication input device 24.

The method is now described with reference to the flowchart 56 of FIG.3. The method begins at Block 58 where the controller 26 checks if thepickpocket mode 28 has been activated at Block 60. The pickpocket mode28 may be selected by the user entering an appropriate code, forexample, and then placing the portable device 10 into the holster 12. Ifthe pickpocket mode 28 has not been entered, the controller 26 continuesto monitor the portable device 10. If the pickpocket mode 28 has beenentered, the controller 26 determines if the portable device 10 has beenremoved from the holster 12 at Block 62.

If the device 10 has not been removed from the holster 12, thecontroller 26 continues to monitor the holster sensor 20. If theportable device 10 has been removed from the holster 12, the controller26 starts a timer at Block 64. The controller 26 then determines if auser input has been authenticated before the system timed-out at Block66. The predetermined time may be user selectable, such as in a range ofseveral seconds up to several minutes, for example.

If the user input has been authenticated before the system timed-out,the controller 26 continues to monitor the portable device 10. If theuser input has not been authenticated before the system timed-out, thecontroller activates a local alert at Block 68, renders user dataunusable at Block 70, and sends at least one remote alert at Block 72.The method ends at Block 74.

Another example of a handheld mobile wireless communications device 1000that may be used in accordance the present invention is furtherdescribed with reference to FIG. 4. The device 1000 includes a housing1200, a keyboard 1400 and an output device 1600. The output device shownis a display 1600, which is preferably a full graphic LCD. Other typesof output devices may alternatively be utilized. A processing device1800 is contained within the housing 1200 and is coupled between thekeyboard 1400 and the display 1600. The processing device 1800 controlsthe operation of the display 1600, as well as the overall operation ofthe mobile device 1000, in response to actuation of keys on the keyboard1400 by the user.

The housing 1200 may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizesand shapes (including clamshell housing structures). The keyboard mayinclude a mode selection key, or other hardware or software forswitching between text entry and telephony entry.

In addition to the processing device 1800, other parts of the mobiledevice 1000 are shown schematically in FIG. 4. These include acommunications subsystem 1001; a short-range communications subsystem1020; the keyboard 1400 and the display 1600, along with otherinput/output devices 1060, 1080, 1100 and 1120; as well as memorydevices 1160, 1180 and various other device subsystems 1201. The mobiledevice 1000 is preferably a two-way RF communications device havingvoice and data communications capabilities. In addition, the mobiledevice 1000 preferably has the capability to communicate with othercomputer systems via the Internet.

Operating system software executed by the processing device 1800 ispreferably stored in a persistent store, such as the flash memory 1160,but may be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read onlymemory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software,specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarilyloaded into a volatile store, such as the random access memory (RAM)1180. Communications signals received by the mobile device may also bestored in the RAM 1180.

The processing device 1800, in addition to its operating systemfunctions, enables execution of software applications 1300A-1300N on thedevice 1000. A predetermined set of applications that control basicdevice operations, such as data and voice communications 1300A and1300B, may be installed on the device 1000 during manufacture. Inaddition, a personal information manager (PIM) application may beinstalled during manufacture. The PIM is preferably capable oforganizing and managing data items, such as e-mail, calendar events,voice mails, appointments, and task items. The PIM application is alsopreferably capable of sending and receiving data items via a wirelessnetwork 1401. Preferably, the PIM data items are seamlessly integrated,synchronized and updated via the wireless network 1401 with the deviceuser's corresponding data items stored or associated with a hostcomputer system.

Communication functions, including data and voice communications, areperformed through the communications subsystem 1001, and possiblythrough the short-range communications subsystem. The communicationssubsystem 1001 includes a receiver 1500, a transmitter 1520, and one ormore antennas 1540 and 1560. In addition, the communications subsystem1001 also includes a processing module, such as a digital signalprocessor (DSP) 1580, and local oscillators (LOs) 1601. The specificdesign and implementation of the communications subsystem 1001 isdependent upon the communications network in which the mobile device1000 is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device 1000 mayinclude a communications subsystem 1001 designed to operate with theMobitex™, Data TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile datacommunications networks, and also designed to operate with any of avariety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, PCS,GSM, etc. Other types of data and voice networks, both separate andintegrated, may also be utilized with the mobile device 1000.

Network access requirements vary depending upon the type ofcommunication system. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC networks,mobile devices are registered on the network using a unique personalidentification number or PIN associated with each device. In GPRSnetworks, however, network access is associated with a subscriber oruser of a device. A GPRS device therefore requires a subscriber identitymodule, commonly referred to as a SIM card, in order to operate on aGPRS network.

When required network registration or activation procedures have beencompleted, the mobile device 1000 may send and receive communicationssignals over the communication network 1401. Signals received from thecommunications network 1401 by the antenna 1540 are routed to thereceiver 1500, which provides for signal amplification, frequency downconversion, filtering, channel selection, etc., and may also provideanalog to digital conversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of thereceived signal allows the DSP 1580 to perform more complexcommunications functions, such as demodulation and decoding. In asimilar manner, signals to be transmitted to the network 1401 areprocessed (e.g. modulated and encoded) by the DSP 1580 and are thenprovided to the transmitter 1520 for digital to analog conversion,frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission tothe communication network 1401 (or networks) via the antenna 1560.

In addition to processing communications signals, the DSP 1580 providesfor control of the receiver 1500 and the transmitter 1520. For example,gains applied to communications signals in the receiver 1500 andtransmitter 1520 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gaincontrol algorithms implemented in the DSP 1580.

In a data communications mode, a received signal, such as a text messageor web page download, is processed by the communications subsystem 1001and is input to the processing device 1800. The received signal is thenfurther processed by the processing device 1800 for an output to thedisplay 1600, or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O device 1060.A device user may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages,using the keyboard 1400 and/or some other auxiliary I/O device 1060,such as a touchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, or some other typeof input device. The composed data items may then be transmitted overthe communications network 1401 via the communications subsystem 1001.

In a voice communications mode, overall operation of the device issubstantially similar to the data communications mode, except thatreceived signals are output to a speaker 1100, and signals fortransmission are generated by a microphone 1120. Alternative voice oraudio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, mayalso be implemented on the device 1000. In addition, the display 1600may also be utilized in voice communications mode, for example todisplay the identity of a calling party, the duration of a voice call,or other voice call related information.

The short-range communications subsystem enables communication betweenthe mobile device 1000 and other proximate systems or devices, whichneed not necessarily be similar devices. For example, the short-rangecommunications subsystem may include an infrared device and associatedcircuits and components, or a Bluetooth communications module to providefor communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tothe mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited tothe specific embodiments disclosed, and that other modifications andembodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A wireless communications device comprising: a wireless transceiver;a sensor configured to sense proximity to an adjacent device; an inputdevice; and a controller coupled with the wireless transceiver, thesensor, and the input device; the controller configured to store userdata, store application data, and wirelessly send at least one alertmessage, and render unusable at least a portion of the user data or theapplication data based upon separation from proximity to the adjacentdevice and unless a correct user authentication is input beforeexpiration of a threshold time.
 2. The wireless communications deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to wirelesslysend at least one alert message, and render unusable at least a portionof the user data or the application data based upon sensing separationfrom proximity to the adjacent device and unless the correct userauthentication is input before expiration of the threshold time and alsoirrespective of a number of attempts to input the correct userauthentication.
 3. The wireless communications device according to claim1 wherein the at least one alert message comprises at least one of amessage to an alternate user device, a security department, or a serviceprovider.
 4. The wireless communications device according to claim 1wherein the at least one remote message comprises at least one of anemail message, a text message, or a telephone call.
 5. The wirelesscommunications device according to claim 1 wherein the at least onealert message comprises a plurality thereof.
 6. The wirelesscommunications device according to claim 1 further comprising a localalert indicator; and wherein the controller is configured to activatethe local alert indicator based upon sensing separation from proximityto the adjacent device.
 7. The wireless communications device accordingto claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a keypad.
 8. The wirelesscommunications device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor comprisesat least one of a magnetic, electrical, optical, or mechanical sensor.9. A wireless communications device comprising: a wireless transceiver;a sensor configured to sense proximity to an adjacent device; an inputdevice; and a controller coupled with the wireless transceiver, thesensor, and the input device; the controller configured to store userdata, store application data, and wirelessly send at least one alertmessage to an alternate user device, a security department, or a serviceprovider, and render unusable at least a portion of the user data or theapplication data based upon sensing separation from proximity to theadjacent device and unless a correct user authentication is input beforeexpiration of a threshold time and irrespective of a number of attemptsto input the correct user authentication.
 10. The wirelesscommunications device according to claim 9 wherein the at least onealert message comprises at least one of an email message, a textmessage, or a telephone call.
 11. The wireless communications deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein the at least one alert message comprises aplurality thereof.
 12. The wireless communications device according toclaim 9 further comprising a local alert indicator; and wherein thecontroller is configured to activate the local alert indicator basedupon sensing separation from proximity to the adjacent device.
 13. Thewireless communications device according to claim 9 wherein the inputdevice comprises a keypad.
 14. A method of operating a wirelesscommunications device comprising a wireless transceiver, a sensorconfigured to sense proximity to an adjacent device, an input device,and a controller coupled with the wireless transceiver, the sensor, andthe input device, the method comprising: operating the controller tostore user data, store application data, and wirelessly send at leastone alert message, and render unusable at least a portion of the userdata or the application data based upon sensing separation fromproximity to the adjacent device and unless a correct userauthentication is input before expiration of a threshold time.
 15. Themethod according to claim 14 wherein operating the controller comprisesoperating the controller to wirelessly send at least one alert message,and render unusable at least a portion of the user data or theapplication data based upon sensing separation from proximity to theadjacent device and unless the correct user authentication is inputbefore expiration of the threshold time and also irrespective of anumber of attempts to input the correct user authentication.
 16. Themethod according to claim 14 wherein the at least one alert messagecomprises at least one of a message to an alternate user device, asecurity department, or a service provider.
 17. The method according toclaim 14 wherein the at least one alert message comprises at least oneof an email message, a text message, or a telephone call.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 14 wherein the at least one alert message comprises aplurality thereof.
 19. The method according to claim 14 wherein thewireless communications device further comprises a local alertindicator; and wherein operating the controller comprises operating thecontroller to activate the local alert indicator based upon sensingseparation from proximity to the adjacent device.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 14 wherein the input device comprises a keypad. 21.The method according to claim 14 wherein the sensor comprises at leastone of a magnetic, electrical, optical, or mechanical sensor.